If you surf over to the Bay Roberts, Newfoundland website, you’ll notice something strange. Their tourism guide — presumably the document that’s supposed to entice travellers to visit the town — is from 2008. While it’s likely a few tourists have stopped by the coastal town for a night, it’s also plausible that so few people are coming to visit that it’s not worth planning any tourism-related events. And it’s hard to blame someone for not showing up — MoneySense magazine named it the worst place to live in Canada.

The town is one of the three cities from Atlantic Canada that can claim the dubious distinction of landing in the Best Places to Live list’s bottom 10; six others are from B.C. and one from Quebec.

With 179 cities on the list, landing dead last, or near last, isn’t easy. According to MoneySense’s data manager Phil Froats, the big reasons why Bay Roberts, Williams Lake, B.C., Port Alberni, B.C. and the rest of the sad sack lot are at the bottom is because of high unemployment, low average household income, negative population growth rates, a dismal culture industry and, for the most part, high crime. (Update: Just want to point out that Bay Roberts actually has the lowest crime rate of the bottom ten cities. In fact, it’s overall crime rate ranks 39 out of 179, so it’s a fairly safe place. The other towns, however, don’t do as well in that category.)

Each of these categories, plus the myriad other data sets, are assigned a point total, with 105 being the maximum number of points. Ottawa, which topped the list captured 73.5 points; Bay Roberts wound up with 31.45. (The top 10 had point totals between 66.42 and 73.5; the bottom ten was between 39.93 and 31.45.)

Unfortunately, these places won’t be surprised at where they ended up. They’re perennial losers — New Glasgow N.S., which holds the 177th spot, was last in 2009, while Port Alberni, now at 175, claimed the bottom position in 2008.

Traditionally, it’s B.C. and Atlantic Canada towns that usually end up near the back of the list Froats suggests that’s because of bad weather and sagging industries. “It’s either very damp or very cold in B.C.,” says Froats. “And the province has all the logging towns.”

According to Froats, Summerside, PEI, which claimed the 172 spot, was hurt because the military, which once used the town as a base, pulled out years ago; Prince Rupert, at 173, has seen its fortunes decline thanks to its underused port.

But all is not lost for these troubled towns. Landing a major industry outside of their traditional sources of income — like Moncton did with call centres — could immediately revive these locales. “If Cape Breton can get a big boat building contract, or something like that, it would do very well,” says Froats.

While it may take a while before a large company plants its feet in these places, there’s one immediate step Bay Roberts could take to make the town more attractive: update its website.

UPDATE: We love getting comments, so thanks for writing in, but after reading through everything we should clarify how this list was created. First of all, I want to point out that this isn’t my opinion — the list is compiled using various data sources from Statistics Canada, various real estate boards, environment Canada, Canadian Medical Association and FP Infomart’s Canadian Demographics. Cities and towns are ranked in each category, the better they do the more points they get in a category. Some categories are worth 10 points, some worth less — you can find out more on our methodology page.

Some people have taken issue with us saying Bay Roberts is the worst place to live in Canada because we don’t list every single location in the country on our list. Fair enough. Only locales with 10,000 or more people were looked at. Bay Roberts has 5,400 people, but we took the CA, which includes Bishop’s Cove, North River, Spaniard’s Bay and Upper Island Cove.

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199 comments on “Canada’s 10 worst places to live”

Bay Roberts, in my opinion, is a wonderful place to live! Of course, how would Byran Borzykowski know that? Very doubtful he visited Bay Roberts or any of the other communities he negatively targeted. Statistics can be quite inaccurate, misinterpreted, and not the best medium for choosing a place to live. However, publicity, whether good, bad, or indifferent, certainly put us front and center, out there so to speak, and it's really just given us a national forum to extend a warm and sincere invitation for all to come visit us and put down roots in our "not your typical small town".

Shirley Hawe on May 4, 2010 at 2:01 pm

Hi Gail,
I was talking more generally — most of the bottom ten cities have a high crime rates, but you're right, Bay Roberts has a low crime rate compared to most of the other cities on the list. It ranks 39 out of 179 for overall crime. So, it may have other issues, but crime isn't one of them.

I'd rather live in many of these places than, say, Windsor, Ontario. I'm surprised Windsor isn't in the bottom ten. BC and Quebec are beautiful provinces – so I guess it depends on what you value. If you value your environment and surroundings, I'd vote Windsor for worst.

Hi Brian,
You wrote the article so why don't you identify the specific issues you used to judge Bay Roberts.
Shirley Hawe

Shirley Hawe on May 4, 2010 at 2:26 pm

This is a crock! I would much prefer to raise my family in a SAFE, clean and family oriented community like Bay Roberts any day versus even a large city like Ottawa(which is a very nice city). This type of judgemental ranking doesn't paint a true and even relevant picture of the communities that are being ranked.

Jim on May 4, 2010 at 2:46 pm

Judgemental? How? Because there's hardly any jobs/a really high crime rate? Neither of those sound appealing, I know I wouldn't want to live somewhere with stats to back that up. And honestly, it's not very clean here. I'd guess maybe 2% of people here recycle, which is ridiculous, get with the times. I've never seen so much litter carelessly left around somewhere, I don't think people have a whole lot of regard for their environment and it's disgusting. So yeah, once again, not too appealing. It's too bad that you chose such a bad place to live, but..don't call a bunch of compiled stats judgemental. That's sort of the entire point of stats; they have to be based on something more than opinion. Sorry.

Jane on May 23, 2010 at 12:04 am

Hi Shirley,
Thanks for the comments.
I've mentioned in the article some of the more general reasons why Bay Roberts and the rest of the bottom 10 didn't do better, but I suggest taking a look at the Best Places to Live list to see more specifically where the town lost points. You can access the list here:http://www.moneysense.ca/2010/04/30/best-places-t…

Hi Shirley,
Thanks for the comments.
I've mentioned in the article some of the more general reasons why Bay Roberts and the rest of the bottom 10 didn't do better, but I suggest taking a look at the Best Places to Live list to see more specifically where the town lost points. You can access the list here:http://www.moneysense.ca/2010/04/30/best-places-t…

I am not impressed with your study. I have lived in Bay Roberts for Forty three years. I travel to many other towns in Canada of similar size and Bay Roberts would be at the top of my list. Our town is clean ,has a sports complex,a swimmimg pool , an arena , a shore line walk (second to none) and a harbour board walk. The town has organizations for the young and the old .We have many organizations that are doing well i.e. Canadian Legion ,Womens Institutes ,Lions Club several church groups .etc . There is a great community spirit of belonging. I ask you did you ever visit Bay Roberts ,NL?

Helen on May 4, 2010 at 3:13 pm

Sounds like every other small town, except with less jobs, a crap climate like the rest of this province, and…more crime. Maybe you should be unimpressed with your city council as opposed to the truth. I'd recommend getting involved in it, instead of complaining to deaf ears on here who will hopefully listen to this study and choose a better place to live.

Jane on May 23, 2010 at 12:07 am

Money Sense magazine needs to get some sense ! Articles/ titles like this are quite misleading in my opinion…if you are going to do some sort of list of best/worst places to live in Canada compare ALL of Canada. There are more than 179 cities/communities in this country and I would suggest changing the title to something like "Canada's 10 worst places to live of the 179 we chose from 5600 municipalities in our country". Alternatively, the blurb about how the places were rated on top of the 10 best could have been placed on the top of the 10 worst.

just me on May 4, 2010 at 3:28 pm

Brian, you're an idiot.

West Coast on May 4, 2010 at 3:40 pm

Your the idiot. If you read the article you would find out that this isn't his opinion, its based on statistics.

LoLiPwNu on May 5, 2010 at 9:36 pm

Just read your article Brian … am just wondering why you've taken such a negative slant on this since out of 2.94% of all the towns/cities one could live in (out of 5772 according to Yahoo), Bay Roberts is ON the "BEST" Places to Live List of MoneySense Magazine. Further, I've lived in Ottawa for 25 years and can't say that I EVER left my doors unlocked for ANY Reason … so your comment about crime rate needs to be brought into balance. In Bay Roberts, I can take a leisurely stroll well after dark without any fear of being mugged or robbed. We have GROWING Population here and recently (this week) reported 25 newly approved Residential Building applications. Regarding our Town Website, you apparently don't visit it very often, or you would KNOW how much work has been done on it over the past few years … and I suspect WILL be done thanks to your comments.
Thank you Brian for having an opinion, regardless of how off-balanced it is, since "No publicity is BAD Publicity"! … Here is Bay Roberts, we are smiling at the wonderful advantage you have given us … THANKS!!

For just me personally, I'm not at all inclined to visit there, because it was called the worst place in Canada. So, some publicity is probably bad publicity, as least tourism-wise. I'm from Victoria. I too can take a leisurely stroll well after dark without having to worry. However, I could also easily get a job there, and live in one of the mildest climates in Canada. Crime isn't entirely about being able to go out after dark and not getting injured or killed. Consider petty thefts, vandalism…all of that. From what I've seen of the rest of Newfoundland, I'm not too surprised to find this out. Honestly…not too sure why someone would care enough to give some unknown, nothing town a bad name. It could just be, oh..the truth? From statistics? Honestly.

Jane on May 23, 2010 at 12:12 am

Hello Jane,

I have lived in Victoria BC for a short time. That was long enough. But I was born and raised in Bay Roberts, NL. I think its a pretty nice place. I easily got a job home here where I make a six figure salary.

Oh and Jane, you and Brian should get together because you both seem to have the same idiot, dingbat intellect and mainlander mentality. This could just be, oh, …the truth? From statistics? Honestly, I am quite sure either you or Brian could raise the average I.Q. of a town just by leaving it. This "unknown, nothing town" is MY Hometown.

Regards,

BBF on May 24, 2010 at 3:38 am

Bay Roberts one of the 10 worst places to live in Canada…..get real! lol…You've obviously never been there or probably not to any town/city in Newfoundland, that's pronounced Newfoudland btw, not newfunland, or new-foundland.
I can't see where Ottawa would be the best but I know one of the worst cities is Oshawa Ontario…the downtown is pretty much a slum!

suzanne kilfoy on May 4, 2010 at 4:57 pm

The article says "years ago," not "a few years ago."

Daniel on May 4, 2010 at 5:25 pm

Have you even visited Bay Roberts? High Crime?!?! Compared to where? Certainly not places such as Edmonton and Toronto. You are insane! High unemployment rate doesn't make a somewhere a horrible place to live. Homeless people on the streets, murders in the middle of the day, amongst some other pretty bad things that can happen. You should really do some more research before you post crap like this!

Gail Maloney on May 4, 2010 at 2:02 pm

Numbers don't lie. And hey, best remember…those two cities you mentioned have giant populations. Bay Roberts? Not so much. And yet the rate of crime is ridiculous. I fully agree with this stat, and wish you the best in the worst place to live in Canada.

Jane on May 22, 2010 at 11:59 pm

This is an *edited* version of my previous post which was deleted….???

Have you ever visited Bat Roberts? …Probably not! I don't know where you came up with your "FACTS", but you couldn't be farther from the truth than you already are. High crime?? How did you come to this conclusion? Updated website, uhmm, yours is out of date as well, according to how you interpret information. Dismal culture industry??? Are you SERIOUS!!! You sir, are a MORON!! I wish I could've been near you when I read your "opinion"……I would have kicked you in the mouth!….Which wouldn't be that hard, considering you talk out your rear!!! I'm sure Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism would get a good laugh at your findings…Which I must say, "in my opinion" have the most attractive advertising of any other province or territory….soooo hows that Have Not province of Ontario?? How many people were killed, robbed, or assaulted there today??

Wilson on May 4, 2010 at 6:07 pm

Where's the complete list from 1 to 179?

Richard Merriman on May 4, 2010 at 2:22 pm

Interesting picture link you've got there Brian … but just wondering what "ARCHIVE" you dug that out of??

I would like to give you my opinion as someone not from Newfoundland who has visited Bay Roberts many times.
Obviously, if you're going to write an article about the worst town in Canada, the people from that town are going to object to the opinion. As they should. The people in Bay Roberts surely feel a strong sense of resentment because they enjoy living where they do, something that not all of us can say.
First I'd like to talk about your crime rate statement. Even with the amended "well I guess it's not as bad as we let on…" you're still over exaggerating the crime rate in Bay Roberts. Even in the city of St. John's, the crime rate is low. In fact, the last brutal murder that happened was over two years ago, and people are still talking about it, because of how shocking it was. And in Bay Roberts? I'm sure there is petty theft and vandalism happening in the area (which you can probably chalk up to a few unruly youth) but the fact of the matter is that people from Bay Roberts can't even remember the last time a serious crime was committed. And yes, I know, because I have asked them.
Secondly, you mentioned the Town of Bay Roberts web page needing an update. I can agree with this. The province of Newfoundland has such great tourism ads, televised and on the web, that it's disappointing to see the Bay Roberts website looking outdated. I would like to mention however, that on the very first page of the website, the Town of Bay Roberts lists the site as being updated in 2009, NOT 2008. I'm not sure where you got 2008 from, but it certainly wasn't the Town of Bay Roberts website. In conjunction with this, I should mention to you that the Bay Roberts Tourism Bureau is probably the nicest tourism bureau I have ever seen. It's easily located on the highway and is new and beautifully built.
I could touch on some other interesting nuggets you've provided your audiences with, but I think I will leave it with these two points. The fact of the matter is you should be personally issuing the people of Bay Roberts an apology for your shoddy journalism. If your writing is representative of the MoneySense company, you can count my subscription as… pending. Permanently.

Jen on May 4, 2010 at 7:01 pm

I guess that the Town of Bay Roberts is paying a price for being a rural town in a country were 80% of the population live in cities.

We maintain the town website for the Town of Bay Roberts, so I happened to be attending a meeting in the town office this morning when your story broke. It felt as though someone had hit us in the face. We are a very small town of a little over 5000 people, and we love our community. I think we have the best volunteers in the world. If you check our events calendar, it is full of activities for citizens of all ages. In the summer months, we have two theatre productions and a month long "Holdin' Ground Festival" for citizens and visitors. All our community events are very well attended and our 4km "Shoreline Heritage Walk" is extremely popular will local people and with visitors. We jointly manage the "Shearstown Estuary" with the neighboring town of Spaniard's Bay, protecting marine life and shoreline plants.

Besides that, Bay Roberts is an exceptionally beautiful place – in we won 2009 Tidy Towns Award – Population category of over 3500 and the 2009 Torngat Municipal Achievement Award in the category of Environmental Sustainability and two national awards during Winter Lights 2009-2010.

Your information is factually incorrect. We had a 3.6% increase in population in the last Canadian census, and we have one of the lowest crime rates in Canada. The town website is updated two or three times a week, sometimes more often.

I just noted your incorrect information has been added to the Wikipedia article on Bay Roberts. I would suggest that you edit it, adding corrections.

Some people have taken issue with us saying Bay Roberts is the worst place to live in Canada because we don’t list every single location in the country on our list. Fair enough. Only locales with 10,000 or more people were looked at. Bay Roberts has 5,400 people, but we took the CA, which includes Bishop’s Cove, North River, Spaniard’s Bay and Upper Island Cove.

Oh, okay well I guess that makes sense. So now I guess you can explain why Carbonear isn't on the list. I mean, I doubt they have 10 000 residents, but I'm sure if you count the outlying coves, you'll find enough people.
What bout Labrador City? Or Happy Valley-Goose Bay? They might have close to ten thousand, so I'm sure you can count another few people who don't actually live there to bolster the numbers. Or maybe you just forgot that Labrador existed? And how about Gander? Mount Pearl? Stephenville? Port-aux-Basques? Conception Bay? You know, some of these places actually DO have ten thousand plus residents. Why aren't they on the list?

Jen on May 4, 2010 at 7:47 pm

I think the article is well researched. All of Newfoundland is expensive, unemployed, and has attitudes of a hillbilly. I live here and I'm not a newfie and don't want to be. The only people that can live here are the Newfies. Not a progressive society.

Dianne Smth on May 4, 2010 at 8:08 pm

Well Dianne, My only question to you is …why do you remain here?

Denise on May 4, 2010 at 9:20 pm

Coming from someone who can't even spell her own name properly. It's okay, Newfoundland doesn't want you.

Jen on May 4, 2010 at 10:28 pm

Well Dianne, There are many boats, buses, and planes for you to go back to the no culture place you come from in. Progressive, Newfoundland is definitly…but the key is that it maintains its roots and culture instead of selling out like most places. If you think that this is well researched because of you personal opinions…you are as retarded as the writer. We are all dumber for reading this artical and your comment…may god have mercy on our souls!

No Name on May 4, 2010 at 8:53 pm

So leave!

The Divine Mrs. M. on May 5, 2010 at 5:29 pm

If you are going to spew insults you could at least use proper grammar and complete sentences.
Otherwise one might assume that you have have "attitudes of a hillbilly".

Trudy on May 7, 2010 at 3:04 pm

The Appalachian mountain chain (arguably) begins in Georgia, USA and ends in Newfoundland&Labrador.

The Webster's definition of Newfoundlander (was): resident of Newfoundland.

The slang word Newfy might be preferable to Newfie, perhaps the 'i' is preferred by British before the formation of the United Kingdom in 1709.

The Progressive Conservatives have added 50jobs to the footwear factory at Harbour Grace, and have distributed a very impressive list of progressive provincial investments. The economics of making footwear has changed these job placements to reflect the spirit of Newfoundland in importing some components for the making of footwear. This supports the solid social fabric of Newfoundland and Newfoundland&Labrador in which all residents co-exist in provincial Unity as part of Canada, within which the unemployed and the welfare recipients are free to invest in land purchase for the purpose of digging their own 'hole' to start to build a home. There is a lot of laborious work that a person could do when not gainfully employed as a taxpayer or within the allowances of 'other' income.

Andrew on May 10, 2010 at 3:00 pm

For me to face up to the people of the Harbour Grace municipality that are now out of jobs, I can say for myself solid of Newfoundland's social fabric. Not anybody is feasibly going to take out a mortgage or long-term bank-loan on semi-skilled labor without having, like in the private-sector oil-patch, loan insurance from the financial institution that issues the loan. I've been on welfare three times in Newfoundland, welfare payments in Newfoundland is perhaps the lowest in Canada, I'll make no ifs ands or buts about that. When I got maritally separated and moved out before my wife left my house with the furniture, I was able to bring home a bag of groceries to my children, the individual welfare payments were more than my grocery budget during undergraduate university (never mind the details, there is no devil in being solid of Newfoundland).

Andrew on May 10, 2010 at 5:20 pm

Fully agreed. I can't wait to get out of here.

Jane on May 23, 2010 at 12:22 am

Bryan,
The info you have on the base departing from Summerside "a few yrs ago", is simply incorrect. It has to have been twenty years anyway, since CFB S'side closed up. The Fed Gov't attempted to replace jobs there to some degree, with the taxation centre. So how the above impacts on S'side after all these years, only the locals know.
I'm PEI born and raised, and Summerside is a more attractive city than the capital, Charlottetown.

Ric on May 4, 2010 at 4:11 pm

i agree with Dianne. Newfies are hillbillies and very clanish. The people in Bay Roberts think they are better than those living in Carbonear. A backwards mentality! The Newfie is a very friendly people, but only if you don't stay. They don't like outsiders living in their communities.

an outsider whos leaving this dumpy island

an outsider on May 4, 2010 at 8:24 pm

excuse me but there is no need to be so rude just because Bay Roberts is a beautiful community and carbonear is a continuous construction road, i wouldnt even call it a town really.

Kevin on May 4, 2010 at 9:35 pm

You are a IDOT,,,,

Bayman on May 5, 2010 at 12:13 am

See ya!

The Divine Mrs. M. on May 5, 2010 at 5:28 pm

I do beleive you got attitude problem. No matter where you go there are going to be people you don't get along with. But, if you don't get along with nobody then you should take a long look at yourself, because usually these means your the one with the problem and no matter where you go your not going to be happy.

Bonnie on May 6, 2010 at 1:36 pm

I do beleive you got attitude problem. No matter where you go there are going to be people you don't get along with. But, if you don't get along with nobody then you should take a long look at yourself, because usually these means your the one with the problem and no matter where you go your not going to be happy.

Bonnie on May 6, 2010 at 1:36 pm

Fully agreed. I've never been anywhere more clannish, and I will never make the mistake of telling an outsider to move here. Out of this hole this summer, and it'll be the best ferry I ever take.

Jane on May 23, 2010 at 12:25 am

Hey outsider,

You're leaving- no loss. Gas is $1.13, most employers pay minimum wage, and housing is becoming very expensive. If you are lucky to own a home, your heating fuel is at least double the price of anywhere else in Canada. Good luck, wish I was going with yua!

tpenny on May 4, 2010 at 8:32 pm

Quite simply I can list off more than 179 communities in Canada worth living in. To take what is a positive article "Best Places To Live In Canada" and try to spin the negative, "Worst Places To Live In Canada" on the communities who just happen to be at the bottom of these statistics is simply wrong. Your column was mean spirited in my opinion. To call beautiful towns such as Bay Roberts, Williams Lake etc. Sad Sack communities shows just how out of touch you are. Why not actually visit some of these towns and report on the positives. Now that would be something worth hearing. I can pretty much assure you that driving through Bay Roberts your not going to lock the doors of your car in fear. Why most people don't even lock the doors of their house at night.

David Anstey on May 4, 2010 at 4:43 pm

Hi Bryan,
Is it accurate to say that the MoneySense survey rates 179 Canadian cities with a population over
10,000? If so, why is Bay Roberts, pop. 5,400 included in this survey?

Shirley Hawe on May 4, 2010 at 4:44 pm

Bay Roberts one of the 10 worst places to live in Canada…..get real! lol…You've obviously never been there or probably not to any town/city in Newfoundland, that's pronounced Newfoudland btw, not newfunland, or new-foundland.
I can't see where Ottawa would be the best but I know one of the worst cities is Oshawa Ontario…the downtown is pretty much a slum!

suzanne kilfoy on May 4, 2010 at 4:57 pm

I didn't notice anyone mispronouncing "Newfoundland." You guys aren't really ones to be giving lessons on pronounciation, I can't wait not to hear anyone say "B'y" or "I seen that" "I got none" or stress an "a" far too harshly. Not really the experts on the english language. My first year english class at Memorial University was a waste. I can't believe how terrible literacy is here.

Jane on May 23, 2010 at 12:16 am

haha, too true.

Maritimer on May 4, 2010 at 5:00 pm

Bay Roberts is a beautiful community i have visited many times over the years, obviously Bryan, you are a idiot who thinks bay roberts has a high crime rate ? are you kidding? you think that community has a higher crime rate than toronto and edmonton? i would be suprised if you even visited newfoundland before or could even pick it out on a map

Kevin on May 4, 2010 at 9:31 pm

I'd be surprised if you could capitalize the necessary areas of your sentence.

Jane on May 23, 2010 at 12:29 am

If I was from Bay Roberts I wouldn't complain at all.. Do you want people like the guy who wrote this article to come visit your beautiful town? Let them stay where they are. Anyone who has been to Bay Roberts knows the difference. I have been there.. quite a few times.. and I'd take it over Ottawa any day.. but hey.. It's just my opinion.. just like his article.. is his "opinion.."

Kris on May 4, 2010 at 5:34 pm

If I was from Bay Roberts I wouldn't complain at all.. Do you want people like the guy who wrote this article to come visit your beautiful town? Let them stay where they are. Anyone who has been to Bay Roberts knows the difference. I have been there.. quite a few times.. and I'd take it over Ottawa any day.. but hey.. It's just my opinion.. just like his article.. is his "opinion.."

Kris on May 4, 2010 at 5:34 pm

Hi Bryan,
Thanks for the clarification in 1st update (Bay Roberts has low crime rate) & 2nd update (MoneySense's attempt at an amalgamation of small towns). That does explain how Bay Roberts managed to rank in your 10,000 population category, however, your explanation certainly don't justify this ranking, it only reiterates the fact that your survey is based on inaccurate information and your accompanying article is flawed. Is MoneySense magazine affiliated with The National Enquirer?

Shirley Hawe on May 4, 2010 at 9:45 pm

I have absolutely no desire to subscribe to a magazine that tends to distort "facts" to the extent that MoneySense has in it's ranking of best places to live. It's an unnecessary attack on rural Canada in general. It lacks sensibility and "taste". I'm unimpressed and find no need to read any further on anything that MoneySense wishes to write about or comment on. Mark me down as a delisted subscriber. I have better things to spend my time reading than useless articles such as this one!

C.A. on May 4, 2010 at 10:01 pm

This is an *edited* version of my previous post which was deleted….???

Have you ever visited Bat Roberts? …Probably not! I don't know where you came up with your "FACTS", but you couldn't be farther from the truth than you already are. High crime?? How did you come to this conclusion? Updated website, uhmm, yours is out of date as well, according to how you interpret information. Dismal culture industry??? Are you SERIOUS!!! You sir, are a MORON!! I wish I could've been near you when I read your "opinion"……I would have kicked you in the mouth!….Which wouldn't be that hard, considering you talk out your rear!!! I'm sure Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism would get a good laugh at your findings…Which I must say, "in my opinion" have the most attractive advertising of any other province or territory….soooo hows that Have Not province of Ontario?? How many people were killed, robbed, or assaulted there today??

Well Bryan, you were going to get a piece of my mind calling us Newfoundlanders "Maritimers" but I see that you have updated your story. Someone must have beat me to it.

I currenly live in Ottawa, and agree that it is a nice city…. but it is also very unfriendly. Look at the Readers digest story from last year (?). I spent all of my childhood summers "at the cabin" in Bay Roberts and think it is a beautiful place!! Our family still owns land there and we hope to do something with it someday soon. You want friendly, accomidating people… go visit!! Have you ever been?

Nellie on May 4, 2010 at 6:40 pm

Six of the ten on the list are from BC. I am wondering if it is time for our provincial government to start flogging their "Best Place on Earth" propaganda more or less now? lol

Clifford on May 4, 2010 at 6:53 pm

LOL. I sure hope not. Because that would be very false.

Jane on May 23, 2010 at 12:18 am

Hi Bryan, It may be difficult for someone like you to understand small town living but they do exist & quite nicely.In our beautiful town of Bay Roberts ,we pride ourselves in our tranquility, almost void of sirens laying claim to murders& muggings in the middle of the day and nite or other senseless crimes.On a daily basis we boast about our bustling economy and ever increasing growth. We are located on the shores of a pristine harbour, with board walks and places to sit and marvel at the beautiful scenry. People walk about safely and except for the blaring news reports from other areas of Canada and the world showing increased rates of crime, we probably would never lock our doors even while away. We have great recreation,tennis courts, swimming pool,a soccer field,a walking track, stadium where many tournaments are hosted, walking trails, a great museum, shopping malls, restaurants,banks etc but most of all PRIDE IN OUR TOWN! Our tourist come by the hundreds each year and some of them love it here so much they have bought summer homes or even relocated here.
Oh yes, thanx for the great chance to let the people of Canada know they have a great place to visit!

Ruth on May 4, 2010 at 7:01 pm

I guess that the Town of Bay Roberts is paying a price for being a rural town in a country were 80% of the population live in cities.

We maintain the town website for the Town of Bay Roberts, so I happened to be attending a meeting in the town office this morning when your story broke. It felt as though someone had hit us in the face. We are a very small town of a little over 5000 people, and we love our community. I think we have the best volunteers in the world. If you check our events calendar, it is full of activities for citizens of all ages. In the summer months, we have two theatre productions and a month long "Holdin' Ground Festival" for citizens and visitors. All our community events are very well attended and our 4km "Shoreline Heritage Walk" is extremely popular will local people and with visitors. We jointly manage the "Shearstown Estuary" with the neighboring town of Spaniard's Bay, protecting marine life and shoreline plants.

Besides that, Bay Roberts is an exceptionally beautiful place – in we won 2009 Tidy Towns Award – Population category of over 3500 and the 2009 Torngat Municipal Achievement Award in the category of Environmental Sustainability and two national awards during Winter Lights 2009-2010.

Your information is factually incorrect. We had a 3.6% increase in population in the last Canadian census, and we have one of the lowest crime rates in Canada. The town website is updated two or three times a week, sometimes more often.

I just noted your incorrect information has been added to the Wikipedia article on Bay Roberts. I would suggest that you edit it, adding corrections.

I guess that the Town of Bay Roberts is paying a price for being a rural town in a country were 80% of the population live in cities.

We maintain the town website for the Town of Bay Roberts, so I happened to be attending a meeting in the town office this morning when your story broke. It felt as though someone had hit us in the face. We are a very small town of a little over 5000 people, and we love our community. I think we have the best volunteers in the world. If you check our events calendar, it is full of activities for citizens of all ages. In the summer months, we have two theatre productions and a month long "Holdin' Ground Festival" for citizens and visitors. All our community events are very well attended and our 4km "Shoreline Heritage Walk" is extremely popular will local people and with visitors. We jointly manage the "Shearstown Estuary" with the neighboring town of Spaniard's Bay, protecting marine life and shoreline plants.

Besides that, Bay Roberts is an exceptionally beautiful place – in we won 2009 Tidy Towns Award – Population category of over 3500 and the 2009 Torngat Municipal Achievement Award in the category of Environmental Sustainability and two national awards during Winter Lights 2009-2010.

Your information is factually incorrect. We had a 3.6% increase in population in the last Canadian census, and we have one of the lowest crime rates in Canada. The town website is updated two or three times a week, sometimes more often.

I just noted your incorrect information has been added to the Wikipedia article on Bay Roberts. I would suggest that you edit it, adding corrections.

can't even believe you wrote this, you should be fired, have you ever been there? There are no metal detectors in the schools, the only thing I read from your article is the town website for tourism hasn't been updated since 2008, maybe its because they are spending time with their children/families and not surfing the net for outdated sites like you…I do not live there but have extended family there which we visit on occasion, like Ontario and any other province have definitely suffered their trials and tribulations but…guess what….they have businesses which employ families and teachers which teach the children…shame on you…what an absolutely horrible article, I can't believe your editor allowed this to be published, editors need to do research which you did not do

coots on May 4, 2010 at 11:46 pm

PS: I'm from a capital city. There are no metal detectors in our schools. Big whoop. Last I checked, not the definition of "crime." I really don't actually understand your point, this is a horrible run on sentence. But I will say that I'm pretty sure the person who wrote this article didn't deliberately search for an outdated site. Pretty irrational, given that there was an outdated site to find in the first place, which is no one's fault but Bay Roberts'. And guess how that website was found? The very research that you don't feel took place. LOL. Think, now.

Jane on May 23, 2010 at 12:36 am

Some people have taken issue with us saying Bay Roberts is the worst place to live in Canada because we don’t list every single location in the country on our list. Fair enough. Only locales with 10,000 or more people were looked at. Bay Roberts has 5,400 people, but we took the CA, which includes Bishop’s Cove, North River, Spaniard’s Bay and Upper Island Cove.

Oh, okay well I guess that makes sense. So now I guess you can explain why Carbonear isn't on the list. I mean, I doubt they have 10 000 residents, but I'm sure if you count the outlying coves, you'll find enough people.
What bout Labrador City? Or Happy Valley-Goose Bay? They might have close to ten thousand, so I'm sure you can count another few people who don't actually live there to bolster the numbers. Or maybe you just forgot that Labrador existed? And how about Gander? Mount Pearl? Stephenville? Port-aux-Basques? Conception Bay? You know, some of these places actually DO have ten thousand plus residents. Why aren't they on the list?

Jen on May 4, 2010 at 7:47 pm

bay roberts is a very crappy place to live, theres nothing to do and its so boring all the time. I live there so i should know.

steve on May 4, 2010 at 7:53 pm

Hey Steve,
Get off your fat arse and take a look around. I bet you wrote this while on Facebook and with XBOX on pause with the Call of Duty game, and your pissed off because there is no wal-mart in Bay Roberts so you had to rent it with money you got from your mom. Name one township that has more to do then Bay Roberts and one more dedicated to make their place a more beautiful and safe place to live. I bet your the life of the virtual party dip$hit!

Brad on May 4, 2010 at 8:47 pm

Something tells me that no matter where you live you would be bored with nothing to do and find it crappy!

Happy in Bay Roberts on May 4, 2010 at 11:10 pm

Don't like it…MOVE

Judy on May 5, 2010 at 12:32 pm

You can always go to Tim Hortons, that's where everyone in Bay Roberts like to go. (oh yes that's right it's the only thing to do in Bay Roberts.

Russell on May 5, 2010 at 6:04 pm

You can always go to Tim Hortons, that's where everyone in Bay Roberts like to go. (oh yes that's right it's the only thing to do in Bay Roberts.

Russell on May 5, 2010 at 6:04 pm

Yes, Bay Roberts Is "Crappy".. But That Don't Mean That Someone That Never Even Been Here Before Can Say Its The Worst Place To Live..!

Readng these comments, especially the one from bologna gale show the dark side hillbilly side of the newfie. They need to be there own country.

dsmith on May 4, 2010 at 11:57 pm

I do think that everyone would be much better off.

Jane on May 23, 2010 at 12:36 am

Tax Centre Jobs, High Tech Areospace jons,

Summerside jobs and quality of jobs has increased in the 18 years since the base closed.

DKG on May 4, 2010 at 7:57 pm

Hello Bryan:

So you were in our fair province for the Juno's on April 08, 2010 – Sounds like somebody must have turned your advances down when you were stumbling along George Street 3 o'clock in the morning. It was nothing personal Bryan – he just knew the kind of journalist you were.
So to get even you decided to pick a community, any community whose name you managed to remember and rub it's face in the mud. well, as usual, Bryan, you chose the wrong community.
Let me quote a few facts on Bay Roberts – one of the few towns on the Avalon Peninsula ( I suppose you are familiar with where that is ) to have experienced a population increase in the past 5 years:The average income for every man, woman, and child in our town is $ 20,200.00 ( 2006 statistics ) and even higher today: Forty two ( 42%) of our population with a high school education or more: 85% own their own homes: 80 provincial court offenders ( 2006).
Next time you're devoid of anything to write about, try taking a few photographs – that way you can at least say you visited the place – or maybe even learning how to read statistics.

Dennis on May 4, 2010 at 8:00 pm

Dennis you forgot to mention that 85% of the population in Bay Roberts have difficulty with the letter H as in "ow are you today or I have "Hart classes" this evening what the heck is up that??

Russell on May 5, 2010 at 6:12 pm

My last time on welfare, there was an extra $11/week for the second adult in the household (over 18y.o.).

Andrew on May 16, 2010 at 4:20 pm

I think the article is well researched. All of Newfoundland is expensive, unemployed, and has attitudes of a hillbilly. I live here and I'm not a newfie and don't want to be. The only people that can live here are the Newfies. Not a progressive society.

Dianne Smth on May 4, 2010 at 8:08 pm

Bay Roberts is one town out of five you named. Just because they're close together doesn't mean they suddenly fuse into a single town for the convenience of providing an out-of-the-way scapegoat for your article. Your statement of Bay Roberts as the 'worst place to live', by statistics or opinions both, is a fabrication.

Gary on May 5, 2010 at 12:10 am

YES!!…AMEN!!

The Divine Mrs. M. on May 5, 2010 at 5:40 pm

'by, you're off on that one. I've been all over this huge country, in hundreds of towns and cities, and I can tell you now, Bay Roberts is not anywhere in the top ten worst I've been to. There is essentially no crime, it's right on the ocean, it's peaceful, and beautiful. Ottawa is definitely a beautiful place, but the people are UGLY. It is one of the most expensive places to eat or get a coffee, it takes hours to navigate the public transit system, the police get in riot gear because of a few bar fights, there are cops everywhere that get in your business…honestly, it is the nerdiest most anal retentive "follow the rules" place in all of Canada. I hate feeling a police presence like that. One that makes you keep thinking you did something wrong. They don't allow buskers, and there is alot of BS racial crap between gatineau and ottawa…the english and the french. yeah the river valley is beautiful, there is a low unemployment rate, and the average salary is high, but the cost of living is also high, and there are crackheads everywhere and you can't walk through a park at night o leave your doors unlocked.

there are no crackheads in Bay Roberts.

You want to know my least favorite place i've been to in canada? Hamilton. That place is disgusting.

Least friendly people in Canada? Toronto, hands down.

And all these places you've got listed in bc too…really? I start to wonder wether or not the author is just afraid of water…there are much worse communities in bc, like prince george, campbell river, or trail.

I feel like maybe all this hate towards Bay Roberts is just cause they all talk funny. Honestly Brian, they can't help it!

grrrrr on May 4, 2010 at 8:14 pm

Toronto=WORST..
Bay Roberts=Best..

Yes, We Do Talk Funnie By Everyone Got There Own Way Of Speech & Different Acksense..
But I Suppose Everyone Got To Sound Like Bryan Borzykowski.. Aye By'

No crackheads in Bay Roberts? So you're aware that the drug store there serves an extremely large number of methadone patients? Fail.

Jane on May 23, 2010 at 12:24 am

I am not upset that my city rated so poorly. Only the postive people that live here realize the gem that it is, and I feel that the people who are not happy living here should move. I could rant on about what makes my community special but I would rather keep it secret.☺ I really do not want to share it with a bunch of people who wouldn't appreciate it. I love P.dot and could care less what the idiots that wrote this article said.

Christina on May 5, 2010 at 12:20 am

i agree with Dianne. Newfies are hillbillies and very clanish. The people in Bay Roberts think they are better than those living in Carbonear. A backwards mentality! The Newfie is a very friendly people, but only if you don't stay. They don't like outsiders living in their communities.

an outsider whos leaving this dumpy island

an outsider on May 4, 2010 at 8:24 pm

Helen mentons the swimming pool complex in Bay Roberts. Well, the pool is not open most of the year. Only open in the summer months. Some people like to make things sound better than they are and leave out the facts.

droberts on May 4, 2010 at 8:37 pm

So, high crime? ……… compared to what?….teletubbies??????????? give me a break. I think that you need to educate yourself based on facts, not garbage that you may have picked up from one of those "best places to live". Get real. We dont have people doing crack in the middle of the day on public streets. We also do not have homeless bodies of people sleeping on benches in parks. And with regards to high unemployment, wherever he got this foolishness to, chances are the people who actually do work were not available becuase they were in Alberta working and weren't available to partake in a survey, (providing there was one even done). I think that someone should take their head out of someplace it should not be and smell the air in Bay Roberts and the mainland and see which is the freshest, then make up your stupid list.

Danielle on May 4, 2010 at 8:44 pm

"Where ever he got this foolishness to?" Did you mean…from? So tired of hearing people say that here. It really does sound ignorant.

Jane on May 23, 2010 at 12:26 am

Let's compare apples to apples here. There are only 510,000 people more or less in the ENTIRE province of Newfoundland and Labrador and on top of that Bay Roberts is a rural community….How can you compare universities, hospitals etc. between individual cities that have a population higher than our entire province ? …Just not possible…. On another note, did anyone notice based on the facts of Froats data that the average house price is higher in Bay Roberts than St. John's….that is because it is a prosperous, growing, popular community which has in turn increased the housing values !

justme on May 5, 2010 at 12:44 am

It actually is possible, population wise. Have you heard the term "per capita"?

Jane on May 23, 2010 at 12:38 am

In the version of this article linked to rogers.yahoo.com it was listed of Bay Roberts, NL '"The town is one of the three Maritime cities that can claim the dubious distinction of landing in the Best Places to Live list’s bottom 10; six others are from B.C. and one from Quebec." Bay Roberts, Nefoundland is a part of Atlantic Canada, not the Maritimes. Let me guess.. you're from Ontario… Makes you research skills look pretty flimsy, let alone your basic georgaphy knowledge.

Kelly on May 5, 2010 at 12:55 am

Hello Bryan,
It's seems you're taking a bit of a beating on this article!( Unfairly, I might add!) The Moneysence article has compiled this list based purely on statistics that have little influence or meaning within the Newfoundland culture. A perfect ezample is the unemployment statitic. It is probably in line with the provincial rate and will be influenced by both seasonal employment and one income households where the employed person works outside the province. The lower income statistic is also likely true, though I would like to see a statistical comarison of the debt load per household percentages. A great many Newfoundlanders own thier homes out-right. As for the crime statistic well to be honest, I suspect it may be influenced by the criminalization of addiction. Like most of Canada we are woefully underequiped to deal with this growing problem. But a statistical analysis of violent and personal property crimes would tell a VERY different story. I don't even know how to address the culture quotient…How can Moneysence even begin to understand , let alone measure a culture that is so different from anything they have experienced?

Corinne L on May 4, 2010 at 8:57 pm

I really wouldn't call this a culture. This is a welfare province that has never been exposed to what culture actually is. I miss culture most about home.

Jane on May 23, 2010 at 12:28 am

Hi Brian

I see you're getting a lot of flack – of course you should expect this response anytime you slander someone's community. I too have a bone to pick with you – as a resident of Campbell River, B.C. and former resident of Calgary, Timmins, Vald'or Quebec, and a few other places – I believe your conclusions are suspect. The cost of living anywhere around Vancouver, Victoria… is absolutely absurd – how can new families move to those locations without going broke. Industry is tough all over – look at the automotive industry in Ontario right now – many people out of work. Moreover, anytime the economy suffers you're more likely to see increases in crime.

I suppose the most important question regarding your findings is, what did you base your study on?" Cost of living, crime , pollution, congestion, traffic, friendliness, – any of these variables would have to favour towns like Campbell River.

However, if you consider entertainment, access to higher education, amenities, – these variables would favour the larger centers – and with that – I say glad to see everyone has their own opinion – I would rather live in Campbell River where I can enjoy the outdoors, live in a beautiful home at a fraction of what it would cost in Vancouver, enjoy great people and close friends, no pollution, high life expectancy, drive anywhere in 10 minutes etc. etc. than live in a smog infested, crime ridden, unfriendly, expensive urban center –

Funny – anytime any of my friends or relatives visits my community – they all respond the same way – WOW!! What a beautiful community – how many say that after seeing Winnepeg, Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver or any burb within those communities – people live there because they have too – people choose to live here, Brian.

Kevin on May 5, 2010 at 1:02 am

Hi Bryan,
Thanks for the clarification in 1st update (Bay Roberts has low crime rate) & 2nd update (MoneySense's attempt at an amalgamation of small towns). That does explain how Bay Roberts managed to rank in your 10,000 population category, however, your explanation certainly don't justify this ranking, it only reiterates the fact that your survey is based on inaccurate information and your accompanying article is flawed. Is MoneySense magazine affiliated with The National Enquirer?

Shirley Hawe on May 4, 2010 at 9:45 pm

Your from a bastardized melting pot of cultures with no real form of identity or culture of your own. You'll never know or understand how much more there reallly is in that small community. Its not only material wealth that life takes into account. Fake people don't last long there because the residents can easily sniff you out. You should really move to the USA its clear you want to be just like them and im sure your town won't miss you. I also feel real sorry for your mother because if opinions are like arse holes, well all she had was you. Thats for your 2 cents, and yes your boss must be stupid. Get a real mans job!

bologna gale on May 4, 2010 at 11:09 pm

Your from a bastardized melting pot of cultures with no real form of identity or culture of your own. You'll never know or understand how much more there reallly is in that small community. Its not only material wealth that life takes into account. Fake people don't last long there because the residents can easily sniff you out. You should really move to the USA its clear you want to be just like them and im sure your town won't miss you. I also feel real sorry for your mother because if opinions are like arse holes, well all she had was you. Thats for your 2 cents, and yes your boss must be stupid. Get a real mans job!

bologna gale on May 4, 2010 at 11:09 pm

Reading these comments, especially the one from bologna gale show the darker, hillbilly side of the newfie. Maybe newfoundland needs to be there own country

dsmith on May 5, 2010 at 12:03 am

I really hope you're not an adult, there are way more errors in that sentence than are excusable. I'll tell you one thing, a melting pot of cultures is much better than a clannish hole where everyone thinks that their way is the best way. Welfare, mispronounciation of everything, and a reality comparable to what my hometown was like maybe 30 years ago. I suspect you haven't been many other places, because you'd know how ridiculous this sounds.

Jane on May 23, 2010 at 12:32 am

haha did you get all your information about the town from the website? because its clear you've never visited and if you have that you're just so lacking morally, emotionally and socially that you can't see the merits in front of your face. maybe we're too busy enjoying life and catering to the tourists to update it, cheers.

jen on May 5, 2010 at 3:23 am

Reading these comments, especially the one from bologna gale show the darker, hillbilly side of the newfie. Maybe newfoundland needs to be there own country.

Bay Roberts is one town out of five you named. Just because they're close together doesn't mean they suddenly fuse into a single town for the convenience of providing an out-of-the-way scapegoat for your article. Your statement of Bay Roberts as the 'worst place to live', by statistics or opinions both, is a fabrication.

Gary on May 5, 2010 at 12:10 am

You guys would not know your ass from a hole in the ground,Bay Roberts is a Beautiful town,,,

bayman on May 5, 2010 at 12:10 am

I am not upset that my city rated so poorly. Only the postive people that live here realize the gem that it is, and I feel that the people who are not happy living here should move. I could rant on about what makes my community special but I would rather keep it secret.☺ I really do not want to share it with a bunch of people who wouldn't appreciate it. I love P.dot and could care less what the idiots that wrote this article said.

Christina on May 5, 2010 at 12:20 am

I am not upset that my city rated so poorly. Only the postive people that live here realize the gem that it is, and I feel that the people who are not happy living here should move. I could rant on about what makes my community special but I would rather keep it secret.☺ I really do not want to share it with a bunch of people who wouldn't appreciate it. I love P.dot and could care less what the idiots that wrote this article said.

Christina on May 5, 2010 at 12:20 am

Hi Brian

I see you're getting a lot of flack – of course you should expect this response anytime you slander someone's community. I too have a bone to pick with you – as a resident of Campbell River, B.C. and former resident of Calgary, Timmins, Vald'or Quebec, and a few other places – I believe your conclusions are suspect. The cost of living anywhere around Vancouver, Victoria… is absolutely absurd – how can new families move to those locations without going broke. Industry is tough all over – look at the automotive industry in Ontario right now – many people out of work. Moreover, anytime the economy suffers you're more likely to see increases in crime.

I suppose the most important question regarding your findings is, what did you base your study on?" Cost of living, crime , pollution, congestion, traffic, friendliness, – any of these variables would have to favour towns like Campbell River.

However, if you consider entertainment, access to higher education, amenities, – these variables would favour the larger centers – and with that – I say glad to see everyone has their own opinion – I would rather live in Campbell River where I can enjoy the outdoors, live in a beautiful home at a fraction of what it would cost in Vancouver, enjoy great people and close friends, no pollution, high life expectancy, drive anywhere in 10 minutes etc. etc. than live in a smog infested, crime ridden, unfriendly, expensive urban center –

Funny – anytime any of my friends or relatives visits my community – they all respond the same way – WOW!! What a beautiful community – how many say that after seeing Winnepeg, Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver or any burb within those communities – people live there because they have too – people choose to live here, Brian.

Kevin on May 5, 2010 at 1:02 am

Well Bryan thanks for saving me a few bucks. I was debating about subscribing to your magazine as I had it as a link on facebook but after reading your inane article, I decided not to bother and to delete your magazine from my list of facebook groups. Besides, according to your article I really can't afford to buy your magazine. A judgement of a city. town, or a group of people should be based on relevant facts of which you have none except for what others have told you or you may have seen on a website. I'm very surprised and saddened that your editor would allow such nonsense to be written aas it drags what otherwise is a good magazine down the drain with you. A suggestion for my Newfoundland friends, if you have Moneysense on facebook…delete it…if you subsribe to it…cancel it….don't support such sensationalistic journalism as it is only written to sell magazibes and nothing more, after all YOUR community might be the next one they target. (Oh, by the way Bryan, look up the facts on the province who contributes the most per capita to charities, guess who will be one of the highest ranking provinces for charitable donations?)

BOB on May 5, 2010 at 1:09 am

Well Bryan thanks for saving me a few bucks. I was debating about subscribing to your magazine as I had it as a link on facebook but after reading your inane article, I decided not to bother and to delete your magazine from my list of facebook groups. Besides, according to your article I really can't afford to buy your magazine. A judgement of a city. town, or a group of people should be based on relevant facts of which you have none except for what others have told you or you may have seen on a website. I'm very surprised and saddened that your editor would allow such nonsense to be written aas it drags what otherwise is a good magazine down the drain with you. A suggestion for my Newfoundland friends, if you have Moneysense on facebook…delete it…if you subsribe to it…cancel it….don't support such sensationalistic journalism as it is only written to sell magazibes and nothing more, after all YOUR community might be the next one they target. (Oh, by the way Bryan, look up the facts on the province who contributes the most per capita to charities, guess who will be one of the highest ranking provinces for charitable donations?)

BOB on May 5, 2010 at 1:09 am

Well Bryan thanks for saving me a few bucks. I was debating about subscribing to your magazine as I had it as a link on facebook but after reading your inane article, I decided not to bother and to delete your magazine from my list of facebook groups. Besides, according to your article I really can't afford to buy your magazine. A judgement of a city. town, or a group of people should be based on relevant facts of which you have none except for what others have told you or you may have seen on a website. I'm very surprised and saddened that your editor would allow such nonsense to be written aas it drags what otherwise is a good magazine down the drain with you. A suggestion for my Newfoundland friends, if you have Moneysense on facebook…delete it…if you subsribe to it…cancel it….don't support such sensationalistic journalism as it is only written to sell magazibes and nothing more, after all YOUR community might be the next one they target. (Oh, by the way Bryan, look up the facts on the province who contributes the most per capita to charities, guess who will be one of the highest ranking provinces for charitable donations?)

BOB on May 5, 2010 at 1:09 am

This is absolutely hilarious! Well at least we get free press. Bay Roberts is by far the best place I've ever lived or visited, at this point I would never want to live anywhere else. There is no where else that you can step out of your house and run errands and run into friends wherever you go, people you grew up with and people you've always known. Now I guess its true we are not focused primarily on finances but it seems it makes the general population a better group of people, we care about each other, and fun and laughter. And since we have low employment opportunities luckily we are a mere 45 minutes from the capital where work is easily found. Bay Roberts I'm sorry to inform you is much more like a suburb than you apparently believe, its very easy to work outside the small confines of the town. Note I said town, not city as has been used in this article. This seems to be a very big misstep, our town is half the size that Bryan has reported it to be, and finds this whole matter mind boggling. Oh and another matter of some importance, apparently our low population growth rate has hindered us and allowed us to be a part of the worst 10 places to live, it really is too bad that the town has doubled in 20 years, and new subdivisions are popping up everywhere. I think this whole article was truly a mistake, possibly the result of opening a map of places one has never been, closing your eyes, and pointing a finger. With that I'll bid adieu, good luck backing up the article

Theresa on May 5, 2010 at 3:11 am

WHERE IS THE LIST

IAN on May 5, 2010 at 5:32 am

Bryan, I have visited Ottawa frequently. While I am proud of it for being our capital, I would never want to live there. It is too expensive, too much SNOW, too uptight and simply, the people are BORING! Also, I don't know how the people in the GTA can possibly get along with each other since they all think they each think they are God's gift from heaven. ( I enjoy the billboards out west saying the beer is colder than Torontotarians!!)
I live in Essex County (outside Windsor) the low cost of living and amount of warm weather, surrounded by the Great Lakes, for fishing, swimming, etc., it is the leading receiver of moving trucks with people moving back. Why? Maybe because it is the best place to live. It is consistantly the number one leader for United Way for generousity. It is filled with really good people!!! When evaluating a place to live, you have to take all of these things into account.

As a parent of children that have always played travel sports, I am sick and tired of hearing this area insulted!!! Enjoy your traffic jams, snobby people, high cost of living, and so much snow that you have to truck it away. P.S. Go Spitfires!!!!!!

Linda White on May 5, 2010 at 5:53 am

Though I'm sure your somewhat relatively skewed facts led you to the absurd conclusion that Bay Roberts, Newfoundland is the worst place to live in Canada, I profusely beg to differ.

I am half Newfoundlander, born to the union of an American Physicist that worked for the United States Government, and a regular, small town girl from the Bay Roberts area. I am an American citiizen currently living in Louisiana, but have visited the Bay Roberts area many times in my 50 years on this earth. I am an educated, avid adventurer with many travels, both near and far, under my belt, and I have to say that this article is a prime example of how the "media" and the way they put a "spin" on facts has the capability to undeniably hurt both people and places without ever considering the "big picture." I ask you, "Did you even remotely think twice about publishing this article, prior to doing so, and did you consider the potential for damage that you might possibly create?" PART 2 CONTINUED IN NEXT COMMENT BELOW

Juanita on May 5, 2010 at 11:45 am

I think what the article is trying to point out is that if you were considering moving to one of these places, it wouldn't have much to offer in terms of employment, entertainment, education etc. I think you all are taking the study way too personal. He isn't saying people from these cities are idiots, he's just saying it may not be the best place to try to prosper.

Quesnel is my hometown, and it's the 4th worst and guess what, I don't live there. It's beautiful and I have family there, but there are no jobs, lots of drugs, kids getting into trouble, limited access to a college education etc. I want more than unemployment and a grade 12 education for my kids. There is nothing wrong with that. There is also nothing wrong with staying in the small town that you love if that is what you choose to do. Stop taking the whole thing like a personal attack.

Guest on May 5, 2010 at 1:21 pm

It was with a great sense of surprise that I read Mr. Borzykowski’s article. I have been privileged to be a lifelong resident of Bay Roberts, but I am also someone who has been fortunate enough to have travelled to many other parts of Canada and the world as well. Simply put, there is no where else I would rather live. I work in the community and I can certainly speak to the fact that the economy is healthy and growing. Houses are being constructed all over the place – over 60 last year alone – in a town of barely 5000 people. Further, the comment by Mr. Borzykowski that we have a high crime rate is a total mystery to me. I am a lawyer by profession and as such I am very familiar with the legal system in this area. I simply can not remember the last “significant” crime in Bay Roberts. In fact, as anyone who has visited Bay Roberts will tell you, we have some of the friendliest people in the country right here in our own back yard, and our commitment to voluntarism is second to none. Our three schools are among the best in the province. Our museum harkens back to our town’s proud history with its direct cable link to the “old world” – a cable that still runs out of our harbour today. The patron of our art gallery is none other than world renown artist Christopher Pratt, and for the record Mr. Pratt maintains a residence in our community as well. We have excellent athletic facilities, a growing (not declining) population and our summer festivals and shows (read – Newfoundland culture) attract thousands of visitors to our beautiful town every year. Mr. Borzykowski is of course entitled to his opinion but I would challenge him to visit our fair town and then see if his opinion remains the same. I strongly suspect it will not.

Richard Collins on May 5, 2010 at 2:15 pm

I do not think this survey is relevant because the base was out of Summerside for over twenty years. I think that Summerside has recovered from the loss a long time ago. The city has improved and expanded since that time. I think reality should have been used in your methodology–there are a lot worse places to live than some of the places listed. If you look at the methodology that USA uses for their polling of Worst and Best Cities–you can say yes that is true. Should recheck your facts.

Kim on May 5, 2010 at 10:18 am

I would like to state that the only vacation I have taken in the last 4 years has been to Bay Roberts and I plan on doing so again this summer. It is a fabulous community, and while it may not have a high income level, the community pride and acceptance on everybody is what makes it such a great place. Most of the youth leave for University, but instead of creating a brain drain, at least 50 percent return…this cannot be said of most small towns! I would like to see ALL the criteria for worst place to live and perhaps a revision of the title. Bay Roberts is a friendly, open community that accepts outsiders in like family and supports each other! Try to visit the places you write about before making an entry on the list. Or maybe call your article: "worst places to live that I have never seen and are judging solely on limited facts and statistics"

Amanda Gunning on May 5, 2010 at 11:10 am

Though I'm sure your somewhat relatively skewed facts led you to the absurd conclusion that Bay Roberts, Newfoundland is the worst place to live in Canada, I profusely beg to differ.

I am half Newfoundlander, born to the union of an American Physicist that worked for the United States Government, and a regular, small town girl from the Bay Roberts area. I am an American citiizen currently living in Louisiana, but have visited the Bay Roberts area many times in my 50 years on this earth. I am an educated, avid adventurer with many travels, both near and far, under my belt, and I have to say that this article is a prime example of how the "media" and the way they put a "spin" on facts has the capability to undeniably hurt both people and places without ever considering the "big picture." I ask you, "Did you even remotely think twice about publishing this article, prior to doing so, and did you consider the potential for damage that you might possibly create?" PART 2 CONTINUED IN NEXT COMMENT BELOW

Juanita on May 5, 2010 at 11:45 am

Let me tell you something—no place on this earth is perfect. We all have our own ideals, and many of those ideals are based on our personal life experiences—experiences that have the extreme capability to sway our own personal opinion. Every one wants something different out of life. As a person that has visited many cities in many states and provinces, some that I personally viewed great and some downright nasty, I pride myself on having the sense to be somewhat objective in my opinion on this matter.

I will be the first to admit that I dearly love Bay Roberts. The minute my plane touches down in St. John's, I am filled with an impending sense of excitement and anticipation, as I'm headed "across the pavement" around the bay. The closer I get, the happier I become—No, my income does not depend on this small community, nor do I live there full-time; Nevertheless, my heart races with joy each and every time I arrive.

Juanita on May 5, 2010 at 11:48 am

CONTINUED FROM ABOVE – I have always been one to seek out small communities and deeply appreciate the innate sense of famililiarity that prevails in them. I enjoy quaint, scenic villages far more than huge, bustling smog-ridden cities and Bay Roberts has so much to offer, if one just stands back, takes a deep breath, and opens their eyes.

Will everyone feel the same way? Absolutely not….truthfully, it does not matter, but I will tell you this—Until you have sat quietly on the ancient time-ridden shores of "Madrock" with a doughnut and hot coffee from "Tim's" in hand, on a blustery, wind-swept cobalt blue-sky day and listened to the aquamarine surf pound violently on the cliffs and rocks below—until you've watched a lone whale frolicking amongst the frothy foam or a crew of seagulls crying plaintively as they swoop the shores peacefully searching for food—or until you've gazed out over the gleaming, distant shores while the wind blows furtively through your hair, you have no right to make a judgment.

Juanita on May 5, 2010 at 11:52 am

CONTINUED FROM ABOVE – I have always been one to seek out small communities and deeply appreciate the innate sense of famililiarity that prevails in them. I enjoy quaint, scenic villages far more than huge, bustling smog-ridden cities and Bay Roberts has so much to offer, if one just stands back, takes a deep breath, and opens their eyes.

Will everyone feel the same way? Absolutely not….truthfully, it does not matter, but I will tell you this—Until you have sat quietly on the ancient time-ridden shores of "Madrock" with a doughnut and hot coffee from "Tim's" in hand, on a blustery, wind-swept cobalt blue-sky day and listened to the aquamarine surf pound violently on the cliffs and rocks below—until you've watched a lone whale frolicking amongst the frothy foam or a crew of seagulls crying plaintively as they swoop the shores peacefully searching for food—or until you've gazed out over the gleaming, distant shores while the wind blows furtively through your hair, you have no right to make a judgment.

Juanita on May 5, 2010 at 11:52 am

CONTINUED FROM ABOVE- . Each and every time I go there, I am always struck with the same intense thought–with heart pounding from the sheer beauty encasing my entire 360 degree view, I exclaim to myself time and again, "I see this and I know, without a single doubt, that there is an awesome and inspiring God!"

Shame on you, Mr. Bryan. Your facts do not prove anything…for when push comes to shove, it all boils down to what you are looking for. Perhaps you should open your eyes and appreciate the finer things in life that money simply cannot buy.

Juanita on May 5, 2010 at 11:52 am

I tried contacting Quesnel a few times one or two years ago wanting to hire a few guys and get access to some equipment to build a prototype and start a new business. I was essentially handing them a new industry on a platter with great growth potential using the products that are already produced there.

Suffice to say I failed to even get acknowledgement of my contact attempts. I think these towns are designed to fail with the large industry they are based on thus creating a desperate mobile laborforce that will work to survive, ignore things like safety/environment etc. Essentially the ideal corporate laborforce.

How else would you explain active self destructive disinterest in innovation and diversification?

Craig on May 5, 2010 at 4:25 pm

I think what the article is trying to point out is that if you were considering moving to one of these places, it wouldn't have much to offer in terms of employment, entertainment, education etc. I think you all are taking the study way too personal. He isn't saying people from these cities are idiots, he's just saying it may not be the best place to try to prosper.

Quesnel is my hometown, and it's the 4th worst and guess what, I don't live there. It's beautiful and I have family there, but there are no jobs, lots of drugs, kids getting into trouble, limited access to a college education etc. I want more than unemployment and a grade 12 education for my kids. There is nothing wrong with that. There is also nothing wrong with staying in the small town that you love if that is what you choose to do. Stop taking the whole thing like a personal attack.

Guest on May 5, 2010 at 1:21 pm

I believe you'd take offense to it !.. U said ur not calling people in Bay Roberts stupid .. however, you mentioned it's not the best place for education! I take offense to that ! .. and for the college's.. Memorial is one of the best universities out there.. & ill have my master's in education, teaching in Bay Roberts! & number one on the Dean's list ! Bay Roberts is beautiful & have wonderful people living here ! As well, let us know where u find somewhere in the world with kids not getting into trouble & drugs around ??

Kyanna on May 6, 2010 at 3:00 am

I believe you'd take offense to it !.. U said ur not calling people in Bay Roberts stupid .. however, you mentioned it's not the best place for education! I take offense to that ! .. and for the college's.. Memorial is one of the best universities out there.. & ill have my master's in education, teaching in Bay Roberts! & number one on the Dean's list ! Bay Roberts is beautiful & have wonderful people living here ! As well, let us know where u find somewhere in the world with kids not getting into trouble & drugs around ??

Kyanna on May 6, 2010 at 3:00 am

unemployment rate in Newfoundland is over 20%, the highest in the country. i think Moneysense did their research very well.

poornewfie on May 5, 2010 at 1:25 pm

It's just a list, I'm sure there are many factors that we do not know about in these so called facts. I live in Williams Lake, and we were ranked #178. I have witnessed a friend of mine try to start up a new business here, and for the first year he did ok, but after that it all went downhill. It seems like community members are scared of change and scared of something new. Bottom line, the forestry industry will never be like it once was. There is an attempt to start a new mine in the area, but my personal feeling on this mine, is the environmental impacts are way too high, just for some jobs for a short period of time.

WL resident on May 5, 2010 at 5:38 pm

I think the community members have to embrase new businesses. I also feel that the housing market has to change, my god what some people want for their houses is crazy, especially when there is nothing driving these prices except for peoples greed. I would love to be able to buy locally such as vehicles, boats, campers/trailers, but I can't justify paying what people want for their stuff. I'ts more cost effective for me to drive the 5 hours to the lower mainland and buy from there. The crime rate here has gone down some this past year, but crime is still very visible in town. It's getting to the point where it's scary to have my kids go to school or attend their after school sports or activities. However with that being said, I'm not about to turn my family into a bunch of hermits and stay in the house all the time. Like I said it's just a list, and has to be taken with a grain of salt.

WL resident on May 5, 2010 at 5:39 pm

PART ONE: Gee, GASP…Ottawa ranked NUMBER ONE…Ohmigod, what a surprise!!!!!!!!!!!!!! With it's merry band of bandits robbing, raping and pillaging Newfoundland as they've done since we joined Confederation, I guess it's best to stay on the side of the 'Big Boy's from Up-ALong" is it, Bryan? As far as I'm concerned, you're as full of hot air, as they are!!! Have you EVEN visited NL? Because you might be surprised at what you find…and after writing what you have, metinks you're better off staying where you ARE…in dim-dumb land, with the rest of the sheep-els you obviously hang out with!
I moved 'home' to the Bay Roberts AREA. last fall..not Bay Robert's itself, but a neighbouring town, simply because the place I bought happened to be located here in Carbonear….so it was no personal grievance against Bay Roberts…AND, I was never happier to leave a place when I boarded that plane in ON to head "home" to NL….I swear, I'm pretty sure I danced a jig!

PART TWO: I had lived in ON for almost 20 years, and at the end, a 20 minute commute to work took 3-4 hours any given day, AND cost me around $300.00 to add insult to injury….and GOD HELP us if ONE drop of RAIN feel from the sky or EGAD…a flake of snow fell….THAT was a major emergency…and couple that with ScarTown…and the infestation of everything that is WRONG on God's green Earth…(I didn't live there, I lived in Whitby, ON, but I worked in Scarborough)….People were ignorant to the point of absolute and utter stupidity….and companies there run modern day sweatshops, because God help you if you (the front line worker) don't kiss the ass of every one in management who thinks they're going to 'inherit' the company someday, so they think they MUST run it like a jail…though prisoners DO have more RIGHTS, don't they, thanks to wonderful OTTAWA!!!! And let's see…my son actually had a GUN put to his head one night by a bunch of hoodlums who were out for fun that night…and nearly got his head kicked in at one of the local pubs one night with my son in law and NOT ONE person came to his AID…not ONE,except my son in law….and God FORBID the thought of NOT locking one's doors..in fact, I had SIX locks on mine, Bryan, and everytime I went out, I locked THREE of them, so if anyone was trying to break in and pick the locks, I was fine..because they were actually LOCKING three of them at all times….see, how our good sense of humor makes up prevail even in the worse of situations? YIPPERS!!! Anyway, I digress…..
I ended up buying a beautiful, majestic 5000+ square foot B&B in Carbonear….and I got THREE quarters of the money to do so by selling my TOWNHOUSE in Whitby…so tell me who's SMART, huh, laddie? And I NOW run out each and every day and kiss the ground I can now freely WALK on….it's not a concrete jungle…neighbours and townsfolk DO care….and believe it or not, we even mange to SURVIVE…oh my, that must hurt your feelings SO much, Bryan….but not only do we survive, we THRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And we don't turn into nasty bullies who 'hide' behind their computer and write crap about a place they've never even seen, and right now, I doubt if you'd WANT to be seen there, because believe it or not, we DO take these things seriously, even when it does come from the mouths of a babe or idiot like you…SO, that being said, I'd suggest you settle down now and sit in your car cursing and fuming at all the gridlock around you…make sure you BREATHE DEEPLY now so you can suck all of that POLLUTION into your lungs and body…and just continue to get nastier and nastier as each year passes, and THEN, take out your passive aggressive ANGER on a small town in Newfoundland which wouldn't mop our STREETS with the likes of you, if you WERE a brush!
Enjoy life as much as you can, and never, ever worry about us Newfoundlander's…we've survived much more scathing attacks than this and will again, I'm sure, but the strange thing is, Bryan…if we ARE so horrible in this area, how come my B&B is almost fully booked already for Summer 2010 ALREADY? AND, YES, I AM helping the unemployment situation, my son…don't you worry now…I've already got ONE employee, whom I plan to WORSHIP and treat like gold, unlike the masochistic managers "I" had in Ontario…AND I'm even thinking of buying a SECOND Property here and hiring even MORE people…and we'll be living it right up!!! I only thank God I don't have to live around dweebs like you anymore who are so ignorant and brain washed that you'd sell your poor old Grannie for a cup of Starbucks Coffee, cause I'm sure you're too IMPORTANT to drink Timmie's like WE do…oh yeah, NEWSFLASH..we even have a TIMMIE'S here…
God bless Newfoundland, I say…and cheer up…just because you're nasty and miserable, you are NOT going to impact us and the way WE live, so get OVER yourself, kiddo….and try and grow a brain in the meantime! Though that's hard to do among the sheep-els!! And I'd lay bets to say YOU live in Ottawa…or some OTHER sewer that lets the garbage workers go on strike for three months and at the end of it, the RATS are bigger than the people living there…so have FUN, Bryan..and don't take it to heart now…because WE despise you every bit as much as YOU despise us…and make sure you Twit (Oh, gosh, I meant Twitter) and Tweet and do all things neat…because YOU are a prime example of why this country IS in the mess it's in!
IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PART TWO: I had lived in ON for almost 20 years, and at the end, a 20 minute commute to work took 3-4 hours any given day, AND cost me around $300.00 to add insult to injury….and GOD HELP us if ONE drop of RAIN feel from the sky or EGAD…a flake of snow fell….THAT was a major emergency…and couple that with ScarTown…and the infestation of everything that is WRONG on God's green Earth…(I didn't live there, I lived in Whitby, ON, but I worked in Scarborough)….People were ignorant to the point of absolute and utter stupidity….and companies there run modern day sweatshops, because God help you if you (the front line worker) don't kiss the ass of every one in management who thinks they're going to 'inherit' the company someday, so they think they MUST run it like a jail…though prisoners DO have more RIGHTS, don't they, thanks to wonderful OTTAWA!!!! And let's see…my son actually had a GUN put to his head one night by a bunch of hoodlums who were out for fun that night…and nearly got his head kicked in at one of the local pubs one night with my son in law and NOT ONE person came to his AID…not ONE,except my son in law….and God FORBID the thought of NOT locking one's doors..in fact, I had SIX locks on mine, Bryan, and everytime I went out, I locked THREE of them, so if anyone was trying to break in and pick the locks, I was fine..because they were actually LOCKING three of them at all times….see, how our good sense of humor makes up prevail even in the worse of situations? YIPPERS!!! Anyway, I digress…..
I ended up buying a beautiful, majestic 5000+ square foot B&B in Carbonear….and I got THREE quarters of the money to do so by selling my TOWNHOUSE in Whitby…so tell me who's SMART, huh, laddie? And I NOW run out each and every day and kiss the ground I can now freely WALK on….it's not a concrete jungle…neighbours and townsfolk DO care….and believe it or not, we even mange to SURVIVE…oh my, that must hurt your feelings SO much, Bryan….but not only do we survive, we THRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And we don't turn into nasty bullies who 'hide' behind their computer and write crap about a place they've never even seen, and right now, I doubt if you'd WANT to be seen there, because believe it or not, we DO take these things seriously, even when it does come from the mouths of a babe or idiot like you…SO, that being said, I'd suggest you settle down now and sit in your car cursing and fuming at all the gridlock around you…make sure you BREATHE DEEPLY now so you can suck all of that POLLUTION into your lungs and body…and just continue to get nastier and nastier as each year passes, and THEN, take out your passive aggressive ANGER on a small town in Newfoundland which wouldn't mop our STREETS with the likes of you, if you WERE a brush!
Enjoy life as much as you can, and never, ever worry about us Newfoundlander's…we've survived much more scathing attacks than this and will again, I'm sure, but the strange thing is, Bryan…if we ARE so horrible in this area, how come my B&B is almost fully booked already for Summer 2010 ALREADY? AND, YES, I AM helping the unemployment situation, my son…don't you worry now…I've already got ONE employee, whom I plan to WORSHIP and treat like gold, unlike the masochistic managers "I" had in Ontario…AND I'm even thinking of buying a SECOND Property here and hiring even MORE people…and we'll be living it right up!!! I only thank God I don't have to live around dweebs like you anymore who are so ignorant and brain washed that you'd sell your poor old Grannie for a cup of Starbucks Coffee, cause I'm sure you're too IMPORTANT to drink Timmie's like WE do…oh yeah, NEWSFLASH..we even have a TIMMIE'S here…
God bless Newfoundland, I say…and cheer up…just because you're nasty and miserable, you are NOT going to impact us and the way WE live, so get OVER yourself, kiddo….and try and grow a brain in the meantime! Though that's hard to do among the sheep-els!! And I'd lay bets to say YOU live in Ottawa…or some OTHER sewer that lets the garbage workers go on strike for three months and at the end of it, the RATS are bigger than the people living there…so have FUN, Bryan..and don't take it to heart now…because WE despise you every bit as much as YOU despise us…and make sure you Twit (Oh, gosh, I meant Twitter) and Tweet and do all things neat…because YOU are a prime example of why this country IS in the mess it's in!
IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well Mr. Borzykowski, I like your update on the "crime" rate in Bay Roberts…It just proves that the rest of your {so called} facts may be a tad off as well!!
I have lived in Bay Roberts my entire life and my husband and I are very proud to be raising our children in such an awesome place!
I think that your placement of our town at the bottom of your "Worst" list is ridiculous…but…what do I know?…I just LIVE here!!
Oh…I have to run!…My children are crying because they are dying of starvation due to our low household income and I also have to call the police!…More gunshots are being fired next door!! ….Good Grief!!

The Divine Mrs. M. on May 5, 2010 at 3:50 pm

Personally, I think that Bay Roberts is an awesome place to live !!.. Like all of Newfoundland for that matter !.. Im sure many would agree !.. Myself, born and raised in Bay Roberts.. I make great offense to this bs ! As would anyone else who's town was named the worst place to live in Canada !! It's a dispute about non-sense ! No matter where you are from you always take great pride in that place! Therefore, I believe many more people will appreciate Bay Roberts more now and what we have! I wouldnt choose anywhere else in the world to live.. And as for ppl talkin about our crime rate ?? HAHA, whats that.. perhaps the random person breakin into a cabin perhaps stealing booze.. woww !! Nobody murdered over it !! & the other accusations about drugs here.. Where isn't there drugs in Canada ?? ..

LOVES BAY ROBERTS!!!!!

Rosie on May 5, 2010 at 9:23 pm

Your assessment of Campbell River in the 10 worst flies in the face of the large number of retirees choosing to move here and the new housing (mostly individual lots ) under construction. Some of us see it as unfortunate that the large chain stores ( Walmart, Home Depot etc) are now under construction here. What is it they see that you dont?

There is no pulp mill operating here. Most of the city has gorgeous views of Discovery Passage and the cruise ships passing close by. We live between the ocean and the forest with unparalleled access to pristine rivers, lakes and mountains. Many retirees keep asking " last one in please shut the door" . Your "10 worst" designation suits most of residents quite well. How many big box stores do you need to buy your underwear?

Geoff on May 5, 2010 at 5:27 pm

Face it people, The truth hurts! There are many things that the bay roberts council can do to help our community! I've been living away for years now, and I sometimes check the website to see whats new…And thats just the thing, Theres never anything new!! They even Tore Apart what summer recreation program they had in place for the kids, to try and host a primere concert for the island! As that concert fell apart the summer recreation program was never brought back to where it should be! I would like to see the Numbers Of kids that were enrolled in the 90's compared to now!! and that even if there is one now! They show pictures on the website of the town swimming pool! which just happens to be open for one month of the year, if that! Time to smartin up. No wonder so many kids out there are on the dope!

jane doe on May 5, 2010 at 6:18 pm

There is a summer program now and the pool is open for longer than 1 month

guest on May 5, 2010 at 9:13 pm

That's the kind of research and conclusion you reach when you outsource your research to some company overseas whose staff knows nothing of Newfoundland & Labrador.

wayne osmond on May 5, 2010 at 8:23 pm

Bryan…. How can you even consider yourself a jouralist? It must give you a little tiny "stiffy" to belittle such a wonderful community. I have never lived there. But I cannot believe that you have even viewed a picture. CRIME!!! Oh COME ON!!!.. The worst crime there is jay walking. As an earlier comment posted…. YOU ARE AN IDIOT!!! Plain and clear. Get a new job…. You suck at what you do!!!!

Chill, Bay Roberts, don't you all have another church bake sale and craft fair to go to? This article isn't the personal attack you seem to perceive it as: Borzykowski is taking data that was compiled on a POINTS SYSTEM (i.e. statistical figures reduced to a basic five-point schematic) and extending it into text. How safe you feel when stumbling into your unlocked home at 3 am after a night at the local beer-trough and VLT den, is entirely irrelevant.

Those of you calling for the author to visit and see for himself the bewitching charms of this still-industrialized, social welfare eden need to realize that the same can be applied to them – have you ever even been off the rock? Have you seen the so-called "best" that this country has to offer? (And by the way, that top score of 73.5 is both a joke and an embarrassment.) This narrow-minded conviction that the sun shines out of Bay Roberts's every orifice is no less ignorant than that which you profess is being exhibited in this article.

So congratulations, you set out here to prove a point, and proven it you have — IF your point was that Bay Roberts is populated mainly by ignorant, xenophobic yahoos with too much time on their hands. Otherwise, I don't know what to tell you — sorry that you can't seem to interpret facts in a rational manner? My condolences that you seem to be under the delusion that you're at the top of some hitherto undiscovered socioeconomic food chain?

And more importantly – can we get our equalization payments back? I don't know if you've noticed, but we're having a recession over here.

cait on May 6, 2010 at 2:46 am

Chill, Bay Roberts, don't you all have another church bake sale and craft fair to go to? This article isn't the personal attack you seem to perceive it as: Borzykowski is taking data that was compiled on a POINTS SYSTEM (i.e. statistical figures reduced to a basic five-point schematic) and extending it into text. How safe you feel when stumbling into your unlocked home at 3 am after a night at the local beer-trough and VLT den, is entirely irrelevant.

Those of you calling for the author to visit and see for himself the bewitching charms of this still-industrialized, social welfare eden need to realize that the same can be applied to them – have you ever even been off the rock? Have you seen the so-called "best" that this country has to offer? (And by the way, that top score of 73.5 is both a joke and an embarrassment.) This narrow-minded conviction that the sun shines out of Bay Roberts's every orifice is no less ignorant than that which you profess is being exhibited in this article.

So congratulations, you set out here to prove a point, and proven it you have — IF your point was that Bay Roberts is populated mainly by ignorant, xenophobic yahoos with too much time on their hands. Otherwise, I don't know what to tell you — sorry that you can't seem to interpret facts in a rational manner? My condolences that you seem to be under the delusion that you're at the top of some hitherto undiscovered socioeconomic food chain?

And more importantly – can we get our equalization payments back? I don't know if you've noticed, but we're having a recession over here.

cait on May 6, 2010 at 2:46 am

Perhaps Mr. Borzykowski 's article is not a personal attack to residents of Bay Roberts, but your ignorant pieces certainly is. If you are well educated on survey's than maybe you would relize that there are always vailidity and reliabilty issues surrounding them, as a result the findings may be inaccurate. In addition, was the sample for the study representative of the population? Perhaps this research is biased? Have you considered that!!! Of course, residents of Bay Robert's are going to be upset about this article, if you take pride in where you live than maybe you would too!!!! Please become a little more educated on research studies before you voice your opinions on their accuires.

Educated Person on May 8, 2010 at 4:52 pm

all the kids are on the dope!! yes theirs dope everywhere in canada!! But all the kids are on the dope!! just go up on the mall lot!! up there sniffing pain killers and much worse! Give the kids a chance.. rebuild the recreation program!! there was a point when Bay Roberts was Putting out some of the best athletes in the province!! now… nothing!! you gotta give the kids an option!!

jane doe on May 6, 2010 at 5:34 am

Proud resident of New Glasgow, NS and I can confirm it is a terrible place to live. I'm surprised Bay Roberts beat us and we're only in 3rd place this year. Dang.

Lisa on May 6, 2010 at 1:34 pm

As someone who has visited both Bay Roberts and many of the 'Top' Canadian cities, I fully agree. Bay Roberts would be a terrible place to live, I would never raise my family there, and YES crime is a major issue. In-fact, I am very surprised that anyone in Bay Roberts even had internet access to respond to this list.

Keep at it Bay Roberts, maybe next year you can be 178.

David on May 6, 2010 at 2:01 pm

Proud resident of New Glasgow, NS and I can confirm it is a terrible place to live. I'm surprised Bay Roberts beat us and we're only in 3rd place this year. Dang.

Lisa on May 6, 2010 at 1:34 pm

It is very regrettable that the residents of Bay Roberts have been publicly humiliated in this way. History records that the residents of Bay Roberts have always been industrious and hard working. However, I spoke with several residents of the town who informed me that the town is run by a politically well connected clique. The Municipal Council in concert with some local movers and shakers anxious to access the Government grants system barged ahead with a project to create walking trails in the east end of the town which resulted in trails being built through privately owned land against the land owners will and over their objections. These land owners had public easements and very restrictive development regulations imposed upon them. The trails created a danger of liability should anyone get lost, injured or killed while walking on trails through privately owned land and the properties have been seriously devalued because of restricted development regulations imposed by the Municipality. In one case, the Municipality constructed a boardwalk along privately owned waterfront land without the land owners consent. That matter is now before the courts. The Municipality appears to be claiming that no private land owner can own waterfront property in Newfoundland because all land around bodies of water is Crown land. What nonsense! The Municipality is denying its own history. When Bay Roberts was settled in the 1500's by Jersey fishermen, they set up what are known as Fishing Rooms or riparian lands and water lots where they built wharfs, stages, fish drying platforms called flakes and other buildings needed to conduct their fishery. Many of these riparian waterfront properties in Bay Roberts were registered in the Plantation Books of Newfoundland. I spoke with one retailer in Bay Roberts who informed me that their business incurs losses of about $100,000.00 a year to shoplifters. I spoke with another businessman who told me that trying to get approvals from the Municipal and Provincial Governments to start any developments is extremely difficult and many developers won't even bother to try. The property and business taxes are high. I spoke with one resident who told me that he remembered Bay Roberts in the 1950's and 1960's when a few enlightened business people moved to or started their businesses on a section of the Route 70 road that runs through the town. He told me that back then things were booming and people from as far away as Corner Brook and the south coast of the Island were coming to Bay Roberts to work. Back then he says, that part of Route 70 through Bay Roberts was known as the "Golden Mile" He told me that instead of being rewarded for boosting the town business sector these business people were ignored or punished and things started to stagnate economically. Apparently, none of those business people received any real recognition from the Municipality except a tax bill. It seems that a few well connected movers and shakers decide who will develop what and where in Bay Roberts. A change in the feudal attitude of the Municipal and Provincial Government is required or perhaps just a change of Government is required to turn things around and get Bay Roberts really booming again.

Don on May 6, 2010 at 1:35 pm

As someone who has visited both Bay Roberts and many of the 'Top' Canadian cities, I fully agree. Bay Roberts would be a terrible place to live, I would never raise my family there, and YES crime is a major issue. In-fact, I am very surprised that anyone in Bay Roberts even had internet access to respond to this list.

David on May 6, 2010 at 2:04 pm

We have posted a story on your article on our website written by a local from Terrace, one of your bottom ten. He looks at your comparative data and trashes it. We agree with his assessment. A "Best Place to Live" is not one where money can be made in wheelbarrows full. It is one where a person, a family can live within a great environment, an active and involved community, a place where a wide variety of outside, outdoors activities can be enjoyed. Fishing, hiking, skiing, biking, swimming, ocean, freshwater, mountain biking, skating, skateboarding, walking, jogging, simply sitting in the sun with a cuppa Joe or an ice cream in the brilliant sunshine.

BC is one of the most enjoyable people places on the planet (except for the Gordon Campbell Government) and there are numerous locations which clearly excel in livability. Terrace has absolutely everything any family might wish for the rest of their family. And Community Spirit??? Not only did we win as a community effort "Hockeyville2009" but also the "One Sky" award for environmental awareness.

So lets look at culture then, shall we? The Matriarchal First Nations in our region, those featured prominently in the paintings by Emily Carr (one of Canada's famous "Group of Seven"), those of the Totems and Feast Halls (long house), thrive and continue as is and was the culture of hundreds of years previous. No where on the planet called Earth can one experience such a great and thriving independent aboriginal culture. And we all live together in harmony, Native and Non-native. We call it the Sacred Circle. A pristine environment untouched by industrial wastelands. Pristine rivers and valleys where the Spirit Bear thrives and the Salmon still spawn.

Yes my friend, a reconsideration is in order. It appears from the premise of the writing, money is the object for livability. With this as your primary criteria, it is with some satisfaction those with that attitude remain in Upper Canada. We prefer to enjoy time with our children and neighbours in a place so welcoming that when visitors arrive, they seldom leave.

Im from St.Johns, NL… but I moved to Makinsons, Bay Roberts, NL 6 years ago. Now if Bryan Borzykowski thinks that its a "Worst Place To Live".. Well I think that Bryan Borzykowski should visit Bay Roberts.. Cause Obviously he didn't visit here before… Bay Roberts my not be that funest place in the province but that dont mean you can make us 179th on the stupid F***ing list… Listen Im not joking you better come to Bay Roberts, NL Bryan Borzykowski.. cause your like the lamest person ever saying that its the worst place ever… BULLSHITTT…. & If anyone "Disagrees" with me WELL YOU CAN GO F**k YOURSELF…………. :@

Im from St.Johns, NL… but I moved to Makinsons, Bay Roberts, NL 6 years ago. Now if Bryan Borzykowski thinks that its a "Worst Place To Live".. Well I think that Bryan Borzykowski should visit Bay Roberts.. Cause Obviously he didn't visit here before… Bay Roberts my not be that funest place in the province but that dont mean you can make us 179th on the stupid F***ing list… Listen Im not joking you better come to Bay Roberts, NL Bryan Borzykowski.. cause your like the lamest person ever saying that its the worst place ever… BULLSHITTT…. & If anyone "Disagrees" with me WELL YOU CAN GO F**k YOURSELF…………. :@

Bryan Borzykowski stirred the pot by saying this about the towns we all call home! I live in Terrace BC, and yes I will admit our employment rate is low sure our weather can be misserable at times and we complain about it but honestly please tell me who DOESN"T do that.
I happen to live in on of the worlds best fresh river water fishing, we have thousands of tourist come from all over the world (yes many from Ontario) to fish This town is in a valley surrounded by mountains that are similar to the rockies, we have a rare white bear called the Kermode that is only found in this area in the WORLD,
As for Prince Rupert being on that list.I have lived in Rupert too its only a hour and half drive from Terrace on what was voted the 5 th most senic highways in Canada some years ago, Rupert has a wide variety of things to do there, a newly renovated old cannery that now has quaint little shops for when the CRUISE ships dock there Never mind the new containor port they built there, historical cannery musem and the list goes on for Prince Rupert as for Terrace, also both towns have the most important wonderful friendly people.

Christene proud Terracecitte for 38 yrs

Christene on May 7, 2010 at 2:45 pm

Dianne smith – You must have some deep rooted worries might I say. I have head that none sense before too often ,if you can come from away you are still free to go away – You must be from the university come form away… they all say that after they have finished a career here, baught cheep houses,used everybody up …so on and so on……

allisnotfairyet on May 8, 2010 at 3:56 pm

Some sorry people, like Dianne Smith, come to NL with pre-conceived notions of superiority. Because of their inability to understand, they already look down their noses at us "Newfies" and local folks see them for what they really are – their bigotry becomes self-fulfilling. Thank God they soon turn around and leave.

Darrell Y on May 9, 2010 at 8:31 pm

Reading the list of BC towns I have to ask; 'what's wrong with me'. I LIKE most of those towns. Prince Rupert and Port Alberni are great ocean fishing towns and Terrace has probably the best river fishing system in the country. True there is very little, if any 'sunrise' industry in these places but when I see the problems of the larger centres I have absolutely no interest going there. As far as crime is concerned, I believe the numbers are skewed by population in the regional districts adjoining these towns. I do not believe Vancouver, Edmonton, Ottawa, etc., are safer and, in fact, I do not feel small towns experience the levels of violence associated with the gangs in the larger centres.

Jeet on May 9, 2010 at 2:23 pm

In fact, even though the Yahoo! article gave it a sensational negative spin, it turns out that Bay Roberts is actually only 179th in this list of Canada's BEST places to live. Pretty impressive! Right up there in the same short list as Ottawa, which in itself shows that this list is senselessly arbitrary and meaningless, based on some weird criteria that obviously only the researcher himself understands. There are hundreds of towns of similar size in Canada that are far less desireable places to live than Bay Roberts!
A look at the town's web site would show that there certainly is a thriving cultural life here in Bay Roberts and the surrounding region, and that the web site itself is constantly being updated with tourism-related information. (After all, Bryan, what sane person would want to live in a town that doesn't keep its web site up to date?? Give me a break!)
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Darrell Y on May 9, 2010 at 8:35 pm

High crime rate? My brother-in-law is an RCMP officer in the town, and members in most other jurisdictions wish they had such a quiet assignment! Sure, there is drug use and break-and-enters, as there is in every Canadian small town, but in his three years here his firearm has been used only once, to dispatch a moose injured in a vehicle collision.
Bay Roberts is one of the fastest-growing, most prosperous municipalities in the Atlantic region. Over 60 new-home construction applications this year alone, in a town of scarcely more than five thousand citizens, is testament to the feelings of young families in the area. Ask Shoppers Drug Mart, RONA, Subway, McDonald's, Quizno's, Tim Horton's, KFC, Loblaw's, Ford, GM, Pizza Delight, etc. why they have the confidence to open outlets in this "Sad Sack" town.
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Darrell Y on May 9, 2010 at 8:37 pm

What a shame that this brand of irresponsible and sensational "journalism" has the power to do such insult to a fine town without the slightest hint of compunction!
Sad to say, but I am quite confident that neither Phil Froats nor Bryan Borzykowski could even find Bay Roberts on a map! Either of you gentlemen is very welcome to prove me wrong. Come and visit this summer, and treat yourself and your family to the most pleasant surprise of your life.

Darrell Y on May 9, 2010 at 8:37 pm

As Mark Twain is claimed to have said, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."

Darrell Y on May 9, 2010 at 8:51 pm

I know alot of this has to do with fact that two of our mills closed in the past 3 years but I have lived in Campbell River BC for over 20 years, raised two children here, I am a stone's throw away from the ocean, can launch my kayak across the street from my home, I am a 10 min ferry ride away from picturesque Quadra Island, Mt Washington is less than 30 minutes from my home to ski, many homes in Campbell River have ocean views. I am self employed and this community supports those that work hard. I have never, and neither of my kids or anyone I know have been a victim of crime (of course we all live pretty clean lives anyhow). In the summer we boat, fish, waterski on the lakes, kayak, go camping and in the winter we curl, play hockey, snow ski. Every sport your child might be interested in is here. And it is beautiful…….unfortunately, the facts can't show how lucky we are to live here

Hey Brian…you must be on glue….to claim that Campbell River is one of the worst places to live is insane! As a Realtor in this community dealing with droves of folks wanting to retire here because of the beauty, mild winters and superior lifestyle, I can safely say that Campbell River is the best place to live, and I have the pictures to prove it! Do you not have to take some responsibility for what you write? As a community trying to diversify economically, we don't need your negative spin on what we have to offer. The truth is that Campbell River has a lot to offer and I would not want to live anywhere else. So put the poison pen down and give your head a shake!

Hey, every one defending Bay Roberts? I'm going to go out on a limb and say that it's just as crappy and hopeless as the rest of Newfoundland, and if you don't believe me, just come! I've been here almost a year, and that's been more than enough. I can't wait to get back to somewhere sensible, not culturally-barren, and devoid of a complex about their uniqueness and belief of special treatment that has to be almost as large as Quebec's. Come on, are you kidding me? Fastest growing prosperous area? Right. So why don't you get off of here and move somewhere real, then? I used to think all of the stereotypes I heard were..well, stereotypes. But PS, everyone considering a move here? They aren't. Don't do it.

Jane on May 22, 2010 at 11:54 pm

I understand the angst from the people of Bay Roberts, however, The article does stipulate the conditions by which the areas were judged and it is understandable while some of the features you herald to be good and may well be do not live up to the standard of life we should expect from a country like Canada. While you may not deem them to be important even those being oppressed without their own knowledge and with their consent of their oppression are still oppressed. Thus the article is fair and these communities do not live up to the standards that we as Atlantic Canadians would otherwise consider a better standard of living. The truth is that they are just not! The over romanticizing of not having to lock their doors also speaks to that there is nothing anyone would want and further exacerbates our misplaced value in being have not provinces that do not measure up to the standard of living in place such as Ottawa.

Greg on June 24, 2010 at 10:05 pm

Cape Breton is an Island, not a city/ town/ municipality. Why would it be listed as such?

I've never been to Newfoundland nor Bay Roberts but I do know that Danny Williams does not take a salary for his role as Premier. That alone should jump all of Newfoundland to the top of these lists. Better then the unfounded salary the people of Nova Scotia (myself included) pay Darrel Dexter.

Mel on July 4, 2010 at 9:05 pm

Where does Inuvik, NT, rank on the scale?

DLB on July 29, 2010 at 10:07 pm

This approach to ranking settlements in a post war, fastest growing, biggest is better, media mash way is dead. There's no rhyme or reason to the ranking.

Readers all know that those days are gone, so why doesn't Canadian Business get a better staff writer and researcher to evaluate how communities are growing against their own values. That would be a way better indicator of whether or not I want to move my family or establish a business in that community. The Wal-Mart wars are over and MoneySense makes no sense anymore.

I won't buy this publication anymore and I will tell all my friends not to either. Its a waste of time.

You lose. Frotien economics are fake.

You are an embarrassment to Colonel J.B. McLean and Major Horace Hunter.